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Originally posted by AlBQuirky

Originally posted by IrondustI already said, that we have different opinions of what could be considered profitable. For me it is live servers + updates + additional money for publisher. For you it is just live servers + updates. Further discussion is pointless

There is NO "opinion" on profit. You totally miss the boat here. Profit is a quantifiable number. Is the cost of running the MMO less than the money it brings in? If yes, it is "profitable." If no, it is NOT "profitable."

A link to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary Online, since you have no clue about what "profit" means.

Yeah, there really isn't a lot of wiggle room for interpretation here. The answer is probably a lot more obscure than the mainstream mmos we've been listing like the Kingdom of Drakkar.

The op could have formed the question a little better if he was looking for the longest running most profitible mmo. The oldest one with a profit doesn't mean much.

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Originally posted by Loktofeit

Originally posted by Rossboss

Originally posted by xpowderx

Originally posted by RossbossI'd imagine WoW would be the most profitable MMORPG of all time. It's got a reliable user base, monthly subscriptions, and a die hard fanbase. Nothing about this game is unreliable.

Reading perception 101 needed. The OP did not ask for "MOST PROFITABLE". Please reread and then give a answer!

My bad, where would I find the quarterly reports of every MMORPG ever made? You should probably reread the original post as well, because it does ask for the most sustained profit.

My opinion holds true. WoW is probably the most reliable MMORPG profit of any of the MMORPGs out there because of the fanbase being so strongly invested. Profit is based on the userbase's sustained subscriptions minus the costs to maintain the game (if my business teacher has taught me anything). I am not a statistician, accountant, or anything of the sort but this seems like a logical way of finding the actual profits of a game.

Your business teacher isn't suspect; Your grammar teacher is. The question still is longest running, not most profitable.

Why is the original post about profits and quarterly earnings? I understand the OP wants to find the longest running MMORPG, but they also mention a sustainable business model. The longest running MMORPG is just a short Google query away if you don't want to think about profits.

I played WoW up until WotLK, played RoM for 2 years and now Rift.I am F2P player. I support games when I feel they deserve my money and I want the items enough.I don't troll, and I don't take kindly to trolls.

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Lineage only managed to pull in 1.3billion lifetime. NA servers were actually shutdown due to the game being unprofitable in 2011.

Sadly we don't have figures for UO. But box sales + expansions + cash shop sales + subscription + merchandise for 16 years should put them pretty close if nothing else.

That's only true in the west. Lineage is insanely popular and profitible even today. It's probably more profitible than most triple A western MMOs. Here is a link to their server page: http://lineage.plaync.com/board/server/list

It's really hard to navigate if you don't know Korean (I don't) so I used Google Chrome. I found the list of servers in a dropdown. I counted 50 servers including the Test server. That's about as many servers as Rift and EQ2 combined.

The game really was that good. It's too bad NC crushed it in the west, but hardcore isn't as popular here as people claim.

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Lineage only managed to pull in 1.3billion lifetime. NA servers were actually shutdown due to the game being unprofitable in 2011.

Sadly we don't have figures for UO. But box sales + expansions + cash shop sales + subscription + merchandise for 16 years should put them pretty close if nothing else.

That's only true in the west. Lineage is insanely popular and profitible even today. It's probably more profitible than most triple A western MMOs. Here is a link to their server page: http://lineage.plaync.com/board/server/list

It's really hard to navigate if you don't know Korean (I don't) so I used Google Chrome. I found the list of servers in a dropdown. I counted 50 servers including the Test server. That's about as many servers as Rift and EQ2 combined.

The game really was that good. It's too bad NC crushed it in the west, but hardcore isn't as popular here as people claim.

Regardless of lineages popularity or its profit margin. It is not the longest running profitable mmo :-D We all want our old school games to be that game! But, alas, we have to put our fanboy issues aside and be honest. I for one believe EQ is top dog :-D But it still does not change the relative question asked by the OP. Which is "what is the oldest mmorpg that retains a profit quarterly above 15%. Hate to say it. But by all accounts we lose if we choose our fanboy game. :-D

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Lineage only managed to pull in 1.3billion lifetime. NA servers were actually shutdown due to the game being unprofitable in 2011.

Sadly we don't have figures for UO. But box sales + expansions + cash shop sales + subscription + merchandise for 16 years should put them pretty close if nothing else.

That's only true in the west. Lineage is insanely popular and profitible even today. It's probably more profitible than most triple A western MMOs. Here is a link to their server page: http://lineage.plaync.com/board/server/list

It's really hard to navigate if you don't know Korean (I don't) so I used Google Chrome. I found the list of servers in a dropdown. I counted 50 servers including the Test server. That's about as many servers as Rift and EQ2 combined.

The game really was that good. It's too bad NC crushed it in the west, but hardcore isn't as popular here as people claim.

Regardless of lineages popularity or its profit margin. It is not the longest running profitable mmo :-D We all want our old school games to be that game! But, alas, we have to put our fanboy issues aside and be honest. I for one believe EQ is top dog :-D But it still does not change the relative question asked by the OP. Which is "what is the oldest mmorpg that retains a profit quarterly above 15%. Hate to say it. But by all accounts we lose if we choose our fanboy game. :-D

Lineage so far is the longest running confirmed profitable MMO, and that doesn't come from a fanboy (I didn't even knew it was top down perspective until this thread, actually). UO, for example, has been around longer, but we have no idea whether it's profitable or not because there's no mention of it on the quarterly reports, which is really the only confirmed information we as outsiders have access to.

Also, Lineage would be the game according to the wording of the question "something that represents at least 15%(or more) of the parent company's earnings every quarter.". Of course, it's not 100% fair, since for all we know UO might be earning more each quarter than Lineage but since EA is much bigger than NCSoft, it doesn't show in the reports, but that was how the question was worded.. :)

Of course, that's of what I know so far, for all I know there might even be a text only MUD or something like that running that has been online for 20 or 30 years with a company so small that even if 10 or 20 people still play it, it's still more than 15% of their earnings.. :)

Lineage only managed to pull in 1.3billion lifetime. NA servers were actually shutdown due to the game being unprofitable in 2011.

Sadly we don't have figures for UO. But box sales + expansions + cash shop sales + subscription + merchandise for 16 years should put them pretty close if nothing else.

That's only true in the west. Lineage is insanely popular and profitible even today. It's probably more profitible than most triple A western MMOs. Here is a link to their server page: http://lineage.plaync.com/board/server/list

It's really hard to navigate if you don't know Korean (I don't) so I used Google Chrome. I found the list of servers in a dropdown. I counted 50 servers including the Test server. That's about as many servers as Rift and EQ2 combined.

The game really was that good. It's too bad NC crushed it in the west, but hardcore isn't as popular here as people claim.

Regardless of lineages popularity or its profit margin. It is not the longest running profitable mmo :-D We all want our old school games to be that game! But, alas, we have to put our fanboy issues aside and be honest. I for one believe EQ is top dog :-D But it still does not change the relative question asked by the OP. Which is "what is the oldest mmorpg that retains a profit quarterly above 15%. Hate to say it. But by all accounts we lose if we choose our fanboy game. :-D

Lineage so far is the longest running confirmed profitable MMO, and that doesn't come from a fanboy (I didn't even knew it was top down perspective until this thread, actually). UO, for example, has been around longer, but we have no idea whether it's profitable or not because there's no mention of it on the quarterly reports, which is really the only confirmed information we as outsiders have access to.

Also, Lineage would be the game according to the wording of the question "something that represents at least 15%(or more) of the parent company's earnings every quarter.". Of course, it's not 100% fair, since for all we know UO might be earning more each quarter than Lineage but since EA is much bigger than NCSoft, it doesn't show in the reports, but that was how the question was worded.. :)

Of course, that's of what I know so far, for all I know there might even be a text only MUD or something like that running that has been online for 20 or 30 years with a company so small that even if 10 or 20 people still play it, it's still more than 15% of their earnings.. :)

Yes, your fanbooism is showing. As regardless of what statistics you give to us the reader. Lineage is not even in the comparision. As it is still newer than some of the other titles mentioned. Here I will break it down for you in simple terms.

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Originally posted by xpowderx

Thanks xpowderx; exactly the type of hair-splitting discussion I had absolutely zero interest of entering.

Self-pity imprisons us in the walls of our own self-absorption. The whole world shrinks down to the size of our problem, and the more we dwell on it, the smaller we are and the larger the problem seems to grow.

Lineage only managed to pull in 1.3billion lifetime. NA servers were actually shutdown due to the game being unprofitable in 2011.

Sadly we don't have figures for UO. But box sales + expansions + cash shop sales + subscription + merchandise for 16 years should put them pretty close if nothing else.

That's only true in the west. Lineage is insanely popular and profitible even today. It's probably more profitible than most triple A western MMOs. Here is a link to their server page: http://lineage.plaync.com/board/server/list

It's really hard to navigate if you don't know Korean (I don't) so I used Google Chrome. I found the list of servers in a dropdown. I counted 50 servers including the Test server. That's about as many servers as Rift and EQ2 combined.

The game really was that good. It's too bad NC crushed it in the west, but hardcore isn't as popular here as people claim.

Regardless of lineages popularity or its profit margin. It is not the longest running profitable mmo :-D We all want our old school games to be that game! But, alas, we have to put our fanboy issues aside and be honest. I for one believe EQ is top dog :-D But it still does not change the relative question asked by the OP. Which is "what is the oldest mmorpg that retains a profit quarterly above 15%. Hate to say it. But by all accounts we lose if we choose our fanboy game. :-D

Lineage so far is the longest running confirmed profitable MMO, and that doesn't come from a fanboy (I didn't even knew it was top down perspective until this thread, actually). UO, for example, has been around longer, but we have no idea whether it's profitable or not because there's no mention of it on the quarterly reports, which is really the only confirmed information we as outsiders have access to.

Also, Lineage would be the game according to the wording of the question "something that represents at least 15%(or more) of the parent company's earnings every quarter.". Of course, it's not 100% fair, since for all we know UO might be earning more each quarter than Lineage but since EA is much bigger than NCSoft, it doesn't show in the reports, but that was how the question was worded.. :)

Of course, that's of what I know so far, for all I know there might even be a text only MUD or something like that running that has been online for 20 or 30 years with a company so small that even if 10 or 20 people still play it, it's still more than 15% of their earnings.. :)

Yes, your fanbooism is showing. As regardless of what statistics you give to us the reader. Lineage is not even in the comparision. As it is still newer than some of the other titles mentioned. Here I will break it down for you in simple terms.

Go ahead, as I said all I knew of lineage was the name, didn't even knew it had closed in the US since this thread kindled my curiosity at a slow day at work so I looked around on the net, and the whole reason I saw the name was that on a thread earlier I was looking at the NCSoft Q4 report and noticed it on the profit by games section.. :)

BTW, the question was "What's the longest running profitable MMO... that represents at least 15%(or more) of the parent company's earnings every quarter.".... the question as was written is not two independent parts, as you say, the oldest and that represents 15% quarterly profit, the question, at least how I read it (granted, as someone whose first language isn't english) is the oldest THAT has had 15% or greater profit, which I do believe is lineage. It is not the longest running MMO, it's not the best MMO (can't say, never even seen it being played, but I can say that I don't particularly like diablo perspective games so I'm not interested either), it's not the most profitable, but it is, which is how I understand the question, the one that has represented 15% of greater profits quaterly for the longest time so far.

Of course, that is of all we know.. for all we know UO might be bringing in more money and be the one that fits better (since it is older), or maybe even (pulling numbers out of my behind), there might be some older game that, for example, might be bringing in $1,150 a month for its parent company but with an upkeep of less than $1,000, which would also put it on the ballpark of the question asked.. :)

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Nexus: The kingdom of the winds first released in Korea under the name Baram in 1996, and it's still running and making profits, granted, the amount isn't that high, but it's still running and profitable.

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Most profitable and longest running would have to be Everquest 1. Been around since 99 and they have gotten 18x40$ for expansions off me, plus probably 8-9 years of sub fees. The coolest part is, I feel like I have ripped them off over the years for all the fun I have gotten.

Currently Playing: ESO and FFXIVHave played: You name itIf you mention rose tinted glasses, you better be referring to Mitch Hedberg.

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Originally posted by AeonbladesMost profitable and longest running would have to be Everquest 1. Been around since 99 and they have gotten 18x40$ for expansions off me, plus probably 8-9 years of sub fees. The coolest part is, I feel like I have ripped them off over the years for all the fun I have gotten.

wow made much more, just because they have alot more subs.

seriously, just google for the most profitable mmo, you will find the answer.

no matter how much i or you like other games, wow is the titan of mmos.

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Originally posted by Thane

Originally posted by AeonbladesMost profitable and longest running would have to be Everquest 1. Been around since 99 and they have gotten 18x40$ for expansions off me, plus probably 8-9 years of sub fees. The coolest part is, I feel like I have ripped them off over the years for all the fun I have gotten.

wow made much more, just because they have alot more subs.

seriously, just google for the most profitable mmo, you will find the answer.

no matter how much i or you like other games, wow is the titan of mmos.

Key words, longest running.

Currently Playing: ESO and FFXIVHave played: You name itIf you mention rose tinted glasses, you better be referring to Mitch Hedberg.

Lineage only managed to pull in 1.3billion lifetime. NA servers were actually shutdown due to the game being unprofitable in 2011.

Sadly we don't have figures for UO. But box sales + expansions + cash shop sales + subscription + merchandise for 16 years should put them pretty close if nothing else.

That's only true in the west. Lineage is insanely popular and profitible even today. It's probably more profitible than most triple A western MMOs. Here is a link to their server page: http://lineage.plaync.com/board/server/list

It's really hard to navigate if you don't know Korean (I don't) so I used Google Chrome. I found the list of servers in a dropdown. I counted 50 servers including the Test server. That's about as many servers as Rift and EQ2 combined.

The game really was that good. It's too bad NC crushed it in the west, but hardcore isn't as popular here as people claim.

Regardless of lineages popularity or its profit margin. It is not the longest running profitable mmo :-D We all want our old school games to be that game! But, alas, we have to put our fanboy issues aside and be honest. I for one believe EQ is top dog :-D But it still does not change the relative question asked by the OP. Which is "what is the oldest mmorpg that retains a profit quarterly above 15%. Hate to say it. But by all accounts we lose if we choose our fanboy game. :-D

Lineage so far is the longest running confirmed profitable MMO, and that doesn't come from a fanboy (I didn't even knew it was top down perspective until this thread, actually). UO, for example, has been around longer, but we have no idea whether it's profitable or not because there's no mention of it on the quarterly reports, which is really the only confirmed information we as outsiders have access to.

Also, Lineage would be the game according to the wording of the question "something that represents at least 15%(or more) of the parent company's earnings every quarter.". Of course, it's not 100% fair, since for all we know UO might be earning more each quarter than Lineage but since EA is much bigger than NCSoft, it doesn't show in the reports, but that was how the question was worded.. :)

Of course, that's of what I know so far, for all I know there might even be a text only MUD or something like that running that has been online for 20 or 30 years with a company so small that even if 10 or 20 people still play it, it's still more than 15% of their earnings.. :)

When MMOs go red beyond a certain age they get shut down, plain and simple.

Its Gemstone(an MMO mud) , which has been around since 1988 on Genie, which is probably longer than some of you folks have been alive. It pretty much trashes Lineage and UO in longevity. I know a couple folks who have characters that and over 20 years old, I haven't played in 5-6 years and the toon I made in 1995 is still sitting on that server he was at level 160 or something ridiculous like that before they compressed it down to 100 because of power creep.